What happens to Reform if, for one reason or another, Nigel Farage exits stage right? In his latest Political Betting column, Mark Littlewood looks at who's waiting in the wings to replace him.

The post Who Next for Reform? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

The British government and the Space Florida aerospace finance and development authority have each committed $200,000 to support joint research, innovation and commercialization projects.

The post UK and Florida commit $400,000 to joint space projects appeared first on SpaceNews.

Reuters reports: Incoming British prime minister Andy Burnham will scrap the government's troubled plans for a digital ID scheme when he enters office on Monday, a spokesperson for the new Labour Party leader said. Resources devoted to the scheme, deemed a "fiasco" by a cross-party committee of lawmakers, will be redirected to Burnham's priorities, the spokesperson said... "All the time and resource that was going to be spent on a national ID scheme will go instead to where it's most needed, such as helping with the cost of living," Burnham's spokesperson said. In November, the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog estimated the cost of the digital ID scheme at around £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) between financial years 2026/27 and 2028/29.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Two vanished posts suggest ancient Britons tracked solstices before Stonehenge rose.

Standing for Reform against Ed Davey's wife in a Lib Dem heartland, Chris Larkin found shy supporters, hostile middle-class lecturers and an unexpected guardian angel in a tower block.

The post My Kamikaze Attempt to Beat Ed Davey’s Wife in the Local Elections as a Reform Candidate appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

MILAN — Switzerland’s decision not to participate in the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation program during the 2028–2034 funding cycle has revived a broader debate over the value of contributing […]

The post Swiss decision to not contribute to Copernicus tests program’s value model appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Sunday Times reports: A criminal investigation has begun after a police officer allegedly used AI to create evidential material in a "number of cases". Derbyshire Constabulary said an officer was being investigated over an allegation of suspected perverting the course of justice. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed it was engaging with defence lawyers and the courts over potentially affected cases... It is the first known allegation of AI misuse by police in a criminal case in the UK, but it follows an incident last year in which West Midlands police relied on AI-generated material that fabricated a match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv. The material was used in intelligence supporting a proposed ban on away fans at the club's match against Aston Villa.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Can anyone or anything stop Andy Burnham becoming PM now, asks Mark Littlewood in his latest Political Betting column as he contemplates breaking his usual rule and taking the 2/5 odds-on bet.

The post Can Anyone or Anything Stop Andy Burnham Now? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Company opens Virginia office, announces $4 million pre-seed funding

The post UK startup Applied Atomics to enter US market with focus on military space mobility appeared first on SpaceNews.

The net zero economy is booming, so claims that prosperity depends on oil and gas are bunkum – unless you’re a Reform backer with fossil fuel interests, of course

Really? You want to destroy a million jobs? Vote Reform UK for mass unemployment: is that your pitch? Hammer these questions home whenever you meet a supporter of the party. Or, for that matter, a Conservative, as their party now takes an almost identical line.

The figures are stark. They were compiled not by Just Stop Oil or the Green party, but by that bastion of conservatism, the Confederation of British Industry. They show that the net zero economy now directly employs more than 300,000 full-time workers, while supporting the jobs of 1.1 million. The net zero sector is worth £100bn to the UK already, and is likely to grow by hundreds of billions more. The rest of the green economy directly employs a further 600,000.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

© Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

© Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

In his recent resignation speech, Wes Streeting attempted to merge Reform, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein into a mega-threat of "nationalism" to which he was the antidote. But it fell flat, says Dr Nicholas Tate.

The post Wes Streeting’s Attempt to Merge Reform With the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein into a Mega-Threat of “Nationalism” Falls Flat appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Firefighters in Manchester have been warned over support for Reform UK – and Andy Burnham is the Fire Commissioner. The Free Speech Union has written to him, demanding an explanation.

The post Firefighters in Greater Manchester Have Been Warned About Support For Reform UK – and Andy Burnham is the Fire Commissioner appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

SAN FRANCISCO – NewOrbit Space, a UK startup developing satellites for very low Earth orbit (VLEO), has raised $18.5 million in a Series A investment round. With the funding, announced […]

The post UK startup NewOrbit raises $18.5 million in Series A round appeared first on SpaceNews.

The UK has initiated a digital ID system required for employment, paralleling increased online censorship through the Online "Safety" Act. Protests against these authoritarian measures are suppressed, warning of potential totalitarianism in Europe. The U.S. must resist similar oppression to safeguard free speech. Australia faces similar controls starting December 10, 2025.